Streamlining Medical Device Development and Manufacturing Using Silicone Elastomers

Silicone elastomers have become a vital material in the medical device industry due to their unique properties, including biocompatibility, durability and chemical inertness. Silicone materials are categorized based on their unvulcanized consistency, which significantly affects their processability and their physical properties. This article compares high consistency silicone rubbers (HCRs), liquid silicone rubbers (LSRs), and low consistency elastomers (LCEs), analyzing their characteristics and the implications in selecting each during different phases in the development of silicone medical devices.